Results 28,061-28,080 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Pension Provisions (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Defined Benefit pension schemes in Ireland are set up and maintained by employers on a voluntary basis. There has never been a statutory obligation on employers under Irish law to contribute to their pension scheme. Rather, when a defined benefits scheme is set up, the level of employer and employee contributions is agreed and established in contract in the scheme Trust Deeds and Rules. The...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Carer's Allowance Applications (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case. Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: At the end of September 2014 there were 335 recipients of a payment under the Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Pension Provisions (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: In order to qualify for a maximum rate contributory pension, in addition to having at least 520 paid contribution weeks since first entry into insurance, an applicant must have a yearly average of 48 paid and/or credited contributions. According to the records of the Department, the person concerned first entered insurable employment in 1963 and reached 65 years of age in November 2012....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Exceptional Needs Payments (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Department has no record of a claim for an exceptional needs payment from this person. Applications can be made through the local Community Welfare service.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Social Welfare Benefits Applications (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 27th November 2014. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the person concerned. It can currently take 10 weeks to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 14thOctober 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Disability Allowance Appeals (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11thDecember 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Social Welfare Code (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: Article 27 of Statutory Instrument 312 of 1996 provides for the exemption of certain forms of income from the charge of PRSI. Article 27(f)(iv) of the Statutory Instrument exempts income received in respect of “Public Offices under the State”. As the portion of income that comes from worker director fees in CIE comes within the scope of this provision, the individual is exempt...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board (CIB), assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. In 2014 funding of some €18.6 million was provided to MABS. Information on the waiting times in each MABS...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Pension Provisions (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The State pension (contributory) is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. This is particularly important given the challenges to the future sustainability of the State pension, with increased numbers of older...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Investigations (17 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The secondment of 20 Gardaí to the Department to assist the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) with fraud investigation work only took effect from last Friday, 5th December, having been agreed earlier this year with the Minister of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. In the circumstances, it is too early to predict with any certainty the precise additional financial...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: First, regarding the media reports on the case of a young woman who is unfortunately brain-dead and being kept on life support, I understand her family is seeking to take a case to the courts. Obviously, I cannot comment in any detail on legal action that might take place. I wish to express my sympathy for the family of this young woman on the tragedy that has happened. She had a serious...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: I will be honest about this. The people voted in favour of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, but when it was put to the people the Labour Party recommended against voting in favour of that amendment. That was our position then and it has been our position for a long time. In cases such as this, the issue is the medical care of the woman. It is a relatively early stage in the...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: We are all delighted to see people coming home to Ireland from across the world. The good news is that, due to the expansion in employment here, for many people it might well be the first step towards what we hope is a permanent return home for those who wish it, after having spent time abroad and probably having gained extremely valuable experience for building a career in Ireland. I...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: -----but due to the strength of the growth in employment, unemployment has fallen.

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy referred to the catastrophic fall in the economy. I am happy to inform him that the latest figures show that unemployment has fallen below 11% and is now at 10.7%. Thankfully, it is now well below the eurozone average.

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: When this Government took office, unemployment was up to 40% above the eurozone average. However, Christmas is all about families coming home. As Deputies will be aware, No. 38 on the Order Paper provides for the Dáil to discuss the fourth report of the Constitutional Convention. The Government takes the work of the convention very seriously. As the Taoiseach said, at our recent...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: The Government has been working through a menu of the very important proposals brought forward by the Constitutional Convention. There will be an opportunity for the Deputy and others from his party to bting forward proposals on the work of the convention.

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)

Joan Burton: We have not heard it.